Free agency opened on Monday afternoon with the legal tampering period. As a result, teams have been able to speak to pending free agents and come to terms on a deal. However, one of the most notable storylines has been if Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields will be traded, whose market continues to shrink. What’s the latest on his status?
Insider Shares Update on Justin Fields’ Status
Going into free agency, it was believed the Bears could likely trade Fields to a quarterback-needy team while they would then select a new quarterback with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, free agency changed that.
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Russell Wilson, the Atlanta Falcons signed Kirk Cousins, the Las Vegas Raiders signed Gardner Minshew II, and the New England Patriots signed Jacoby Brissett, among other moves. This begs the question: Who would trade for Fields now?
“What the Chicago Bears are committed to doing, and really what they’ve been committed to doing the entire time, is fully evaluating the quarterbacks who they could take at number one, including Caleb Williams,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said.
Why haven't the #Bears traded Justin Fields? Well: This isn't a Justin Fields situation, it's a Caleb Williams situation. Let me explain… pic.twitter.com/zmOAIqA26O
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2024
“At the point when they are then settled on taking Caleb Williams No. 1, which we expect but we don’t know for sure, this is too important a decision … until all that, they are going to do the full evaluation,” Rapoport said. The decision will likely be between Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels.
“When they settle on a quarterback they are taking at one, and I do expect them to take a quarterback at No. 1, at that point, they will then move to say, ‘Where are we going to trade Justin Fields?'” Rapoport said.
Rapoport went on to say a Fields trade could take place in the lead-up to the draft or even during Draft Night itself. “Just because they’re not actively shopping him, it doesn’t really mean anything as it pertains to Justin Fields,” Rapoport said.
Fields was a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and has started for the Bears for three years since. He’s passed for 6,674 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions. He adds 2,220 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Bears have gone 10-28 in his 38 starts.
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Earlier on Tuesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter went on First Take and spoke on Fields’ market. “The teams that are looking at him would be looking at him as a backup,” Schefter said.
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